Birmingham International Recorder and Early Music Festival

We are delighted to present the second Birmingham International Recorder and Early Music Festival. This unique event combines fantastic professional concerts, demonstrations and participatory events, with a newly enlarged early music market
Highlights include:
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Birmingham Young Recorder Soloists Competition
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Professional and student concerts including Dan Laurin, The Gonzaga Band, London Handel Players, Musical and Amicable Society, Art of Moog, Bonfire Radicals
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Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration concert for Walter Bergmann
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Early music taster workshops
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Demonstration events
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Recorder Masterclasses
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Early Music Market. Download a list of Early Music Exhibitors
Admission to Masterclasses and Workshops is free. Concert tickets are individually priced. Day Passes are available here. Please note that in the case of over-subscription, Day Pass holders will get priority seating for the masterclasses and competition.
Download the Early Music At A Glance timetable
Download the full list of Early Music Exhibitors .
Concerts
Thu 15 Feb
The Gonzaga Band: Venice 1629
Bonfire Radicals
Fri 16 Feb
Dan Laurin and Anna Paradiso
London Handel Players: Baroque Dance programme with Mary Collins and Steven Player
The Art of Moog
Sat 17 Feb
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Recorder Department Concert: Twentieth Century Originals
Musical and Amicable Society: Bach Harpsichord Concertos
Jamie Savan: Late Night Loops
Sun 18 Feb
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Early Music Department Concert
Walter Bergmann Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration Concert
Other Events
16 - 18 Feb
Early Music Market
A variety of instrument makers, shops and organisations will be situated in the main foyer areas throughout the festival.
Thu 15 Feb
Public Research Seminar: Elizabeth Kenny - Extending the repertoire for Extended Necks
Fri 16 & Sat 16 Feb
Tim Cranmore Makes a Recorder from a Carrot
Sat 17 Feb
Foyer performance: Warwickshire Youth Waits
Illustrated Talk: The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments
Sun 18 Feb
Francesca Clements - Recorder Teaching with Electronics
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire alumni and graduate from the Conservatory of Amsterdam Francesca Clements, gives an introductory workshop for teachers and performers to demonstrating how teachers can include live electronics within their music lessons.
Trinity College London Teacher’s Session
For further information, email annabel.knight@bcu.ac.uk or martin.perkins@bcu.ac.uk
Birmingham Young Recorder Soloists' Competition
An international competition for solo recitalists aged 18 and under, with valuable prizes given by Tim Cranmore recorders, The Early Music Shop and Recorder Music Mail.
Entrants need to apply by Fri 22 Dec 2017. Preliminary rounds will be held on Fri 16 Feb and Finals on Sat 17 Feb 2018. Judges Dan Laurin, Annabel Knight and Francesca Clements.
To apply: Entrants must read the Competition Guidelines download, fill in and send theCompetition Entry Form and make an entry through Eventbrite.
Open Masterclasses
With Michelle Holloway and Chris Orton
We are delighted to present a series of Recorder Masterclasses, open to all levels and ages, with our fantastic recorder experts, Chris Orton (tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) and Michelle Holloway (tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department). To register to play in a class, please follow the links below.
Fri 16 Feb 2018
10am-12pm: Grades 1-5 Open Masterclass with Chris Orton
4.45pm - 6.15pm: Grades 6-8+ (including Diplomas) Open Masterclass with Michelle Holloway
Sat 17 Feb 2018
9am -12pm: Grades 1-5 Open Masterclass with Michelle Holloway
9am - 12pm: Grades 6-8+ (including Diplomas) Open Masterclass with Chris Orton
Taster Workshops
Taster workshops for baroque instruments including harpsichord, flute, violin and oboe. No registration required.
Sat 17 Feb
9.30am - 10.30am Baroque Flute Taster with Annabel Knight
11am -12pm Baroque Violin Taster with Miki Takahashi
Sun 18 Feb
9.30am - 10.30am Harpsichord Taster with Robin Bigwood
11am - 12pm Baroque Oboe Taster with Gail Hennessy
You can also check out the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Recorder and Early Music Departments on Facebook, to get up to date news on all the events happening across the year!